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Area Surveyed <br />A total of 52 acres was inspected for cultural resources, as illus- <br />trated In Figure 1. Twenty acres, or those lands located In Sections 2 <br />and 3 of Township 13 South, Range 91 West, are privately owned, and 32 <br />acres, those lands located in Sections 34 and 35 of Township 12 South, <br />Range 91 West, are publicly owned, and are administered by the U.S.D.A. <br />Forest Service. The entire project area was inspected by two archaeolo- <br />gists in one day, accounting for two person days of labor and 26 acres <br />inventoried per person per day. While the entire project area was tra- <br />versed during the survey, Sortie areas were inspected with a higher degree <br />of confidence than others, due to differing degrees of ground visibility. <br />Ground visibility was good on a relatively level bench at the confluence <br />of Sheep Corral Gulch and Nubbard Lreek, and on Cwo grass-covered benches <br />on the slopes immediately south of Sheep Corral Gulch. In [he remainder <br />of the project area, except on improved roads, ground visibility was <br />very poor due to duff. The Gambel oak and serviceberry ground cover )n <br />these areas severely limited line of sight, and produced an organic ma[ <br />covering the soil. The brush made inspecting the project area very <br />difficult. <br />Culture History <br />The earliest inhabitants in west-central Colorado for which evi- <br />dence exists may have been representative of the Llano Culture. The <br />Llano Culture is the firs[ of three distinct "cultures" that comprise <br />the Paleo-Indian Tradition, a biy-game huntiny adaptation to terminal <br />Pleistocene environments. The Llano Culture is characterized by the <br />distinctive Llovls projectile point, a fluted, lanceolate-shaped arti- <br />fact, and is dated [o approximately 9200 B. C. Clovis projectile points <br />and other less distinctive components of the Llano artifact assemblages <br />have been found in association with now-extinct forms of mamnoth, horse, <br />tapir, camel, and other species in North America. A single Clovis pro- <br />jectile point was discovered on a lithic scatter possessing more recent <br />cultural materials in [he vicinity of Cimarron, Colorado, approximately <br />35 miles (56 km) south of the project area (Carpenter et al. 1976). <br />Evidence is somewhat more abundant for the subsequent Pateo-Indtan <br />culture, known as the Folsom Culture. The Folsom Culture has been dated <br />to approximately 9000 [0 7000 B.C. It too seems to have emphasized big- <br />game hunting, but apparently focused upon exploitation of la rye, now- <br />extinct species of bison. The Folsom Lulture is characterized by the <br />Folsom projectile point, which is fluted and lanceolate, but somewhat <br />smaller than the Clovis point. Folsom projectile points have reportedly <br />been discovered near Grand Junction, Colorado (Steward 1933 5), and on <br />the Uncompahgre Plateau southeast of Grand Junction (Wormington 1955 20). <br />Other Folsom points have been discovered in the vicinity of Cimarron, <br />Colorado (Reed and Scot[ 1980). <br />3 <br />